For this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase in italics. Between Achebe and Soyinka, it is debatable who is more enigmatic ...

Answer Details

Enigmatic means mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to interpret. An enigmatic person or piece of writing is one whose meaning or nature is not easily understood.

The word nearest in meaning is inscrutable, which means impossible to understand or interpret. Both enigmatic and inscrutable describe something that resists easy comprehension - a quality often attributed to complex literary figures like the writers mentioned in the sentence.

The other options do not capture this meaning:

• flamboyant means tending to attract attention because of confidence, exuberance, or stylishness. A flamboyant writer is showy, not necessarily mysterious.
• ludicrous means absurd or ridiculous, which is unrelated to mystery or difficulty of interpretation.
• talented means having a natural aptitude or skill. While both writers mentioned are talented, this word describes ability, not the mysterious quality that enigmatic conveys.